Ferguson will stay on select board . . . for now

State Rep.-elect Kimberly Ferguson says she will continue to serve on the Holden Select Board in order to avoid triggering a special election to fill her seat on that board.

“It’s my intention to stay as long as I can [until May 2011],” Ferguson said. “As long as I’m not seeing conflicts, and I’m not missing a lot of meetings and the position’s not suffering.”

A special election before the annual town election would cost the town money, she said, something she’s trying to avoid. Town Clerk Cheryl Jenkins said a special election could cost around $5,000.

There is no provision for replacing a member of the select board after resignation or death in the town’s bylaws or charter; there is a state law that gives a threshold for when to hold a special election. If a select board member leaves the board less than 100 days before the next town election, the board does not have to hold a special election to fill the seat. If it is more than 100 days before the next town election, (in this case scheduled for May 2011), the board can decide if it wants to continue with only four members until the next election, though in that instance, citizens can petition for the special election to fill the seat.

Ferguson consulted state and local officials and counsel about the situation before making her decision.

Continuing in both positions means Ferguson, once she takes office at the State House in January, will be doing two jobs, something she’s definitely still concerned about, though her concern is for the scheduling conflicts that might arise.

As for the main issue on both local and state officials’ minds — budgets — she thinks having served on a select board and seeing local concerns will benefit her position.

“If anything, I can fight for local aid because I’m living it,” she says.

There may be instances, she says, when the board’s actions will require her to abstain, but she’ll cross those bridges as she comes to them, and realizes she’ll have to start doing the job of state legislator before she knows exactly how the situation will play out.

“I think at all times Kim [Ferguson] is going to represent the best interests of the citizens of the commonwealth,” White said.

He also said there were no conflicts between the state’s goals and the town’s goals in the past, and White doesn’t expect any conflicts or problems under Ferguson in the future.

While Ferguson plans to serve as long as possible to avoid having a special election, that could still leave the statutory 100 day vacancy before the May 2011 town election for the select board to operate with only four members, a situation that can result in no tie-breaking vote, or no quorum if two or more members happen to be absent.

White isn’t worried. In fact, he’s happy not to face a special election where, he fears, not many voters would show up. Leaving the election for the remainder of Ferguson’s year until the town election means the usual number of voters that would show up for the town election will be at the polls to fill her seat. She will still be leaving one year of her three-year term to be filled.

From the town manager’s point of view, Ferguson’s actions are laudable.

“Her goal is not to cost the town money,” Town Manager Nancy Galkowski said. “I applaud her for doing that.”